Skills for Healthy Relationships

Healthy Relationships• Everyone yearns for that feeling of belonging and

being loved.• We are able to meet those needs through

relationships.• Relationships: A bond or connection you have with

other people.• All our relationships can have positive and

negative effects on your health triangle. • A healthy relationship supports, encourages and

helps both individuals in the relationship.

Family Relationships• Family relationships: involve both immediate and

extended family which last your entire life.• Healthy family relationships enhance all three

sides of your triangle.• For example, your parents provide for your

physical health with food, clothing, and shelter. They build your social health by teaching you the values that will guide your throughout life. The love, care, and encourage you receive from family contributes to your mental/emotional health.

Friendships• Friendships: Significant relationship between two

people that is based on caring, trust, and consideration.

• Friends can be of any age and you get to choose them for different reasons.

• Friends are those that have similar values and more importantly have a positive influence.

• Maintaining a good friendship can sometimes be hard work, but it is well worth the effort.

Community Relationships• Citizenship: The way you conduct yourself as a

member of the community.• Work together to promote the safety and well-

being of the entire community. • Volunteer, follow rules, being friendly and helpful

Roles with Peers, Family and Friends• Role: A part you play in a relationship.• You play various roles depending on the

relationship and situation.• Examples: Son/Daughter, student, athlete,

employee, girlfriend/boyfriend, and etc. • It is important we are able to acknowledge the

roles we play and understand the influences of each role.

Building Healthy Relationships• In order for relationships to succeed, people need certain

skills. Three of these skills are communication, cooperation, and compromise—the three Cs of healthy relationships.

• Communication: Your ways of sending and receiving messages.

• Examples: Exchanged through words, gestures, facial expressions and behaviors

• Cooperation: Working together for the good of all.• Examples: Sports teams working together for a common

goal.• Compromise: Problem-solving method that involves each

participant’s giving up something to reach a solution that satisfies everyone.

Characteristics of Healthy Relationships• All good relationships have certain recognizable

characteristics.• Mutual Respect and Consideration: People

show mutual respect even when they disagree. This involves accepting one another’s tastes and opinions.

• Honesty: Because of their mutual respect and consideration people in a healthy relationship have the confidence to be open and honest about their actions, thoughts, and feelings.

• Dependability: Dependable, trustworthy and reliable. Each person is there for the other when needed.

• Commitment: People are willing to work together and make sacrifices that benefit everyone involved.

Demonstrating Character in Relationships• Your character-the way you think, feel, and act

has the greatest influence on your relationships with others. You can establish healthy relationships by demonstrating the six characteristics of a good character.

• Trustworthiness• Respect• Responsibility• Fairness• Caring • Citizenship

Effective Communication• There are three basic skills in order to achieve

effective communication. • Speaking, listening, and body language• There are three types of communication styles.• Passive: inability or unwillingness to express

thoughts and feelings• Aggressive: get their way through bullying and

intimidation• Assertive: expressing thoughts and feeling clearly

and directly but without hurting other.

Speaking Skills• Having good communication skills means that you

do not assume that others can read your mind or know your needs and expectations.

• When you interact with others, you are responsible for making your thoughts and feelings know.

• Demonstrating good speaking skills means you clearly say what you mean.

• Changes in the tone, pitch, or loudness of your voice can affect communication.

Listening Skills• Listening is an important aspect to effective communication• Active listening: paying close attention to what someone is

saying and communicating. • Techniques for Active Listening• Reflective listening: you rephrase or summarize what the

other person has said• Clarifying: ask the speaker what he or she thinks or how he or

she feels about the situation• Encouraging: you signal that you are interested and involved.

“I understand,” and “I see”.• Empathizing: you are able to imagine and understand how

someone else feels• Body language: nonverbal communication through gestures,

facial expressions, behaviors, and posture.

Eliminating Communication Barrier• Being able to identify and eliminate

communication barriers is important for everyone in the relationship. The following are examples of obstacles that could affect clear communication between two people

• Image and identity issues: • Unrealistic expectations: • Lack of trust• Prejudice• Gender stereotyping

Constructive Criticism, Acknowledgements and Compliments

• No one is perfect and we all make mistakes throughout life. How we acknowledge and accept our mistakes will only help us with our relationships.

• Constructive Criticism: nonhostile comments that point out problems and encourage improvement

• CC is intended to bring about positive changes. It is important to start the conversation with “I” messages to explain how you feel. For example, I feel frustrated you keep canceling our plans to hang out because I really want to hang out with you. Could we please make plans that work be broken?

• Expressing and receiving respect, admiration, and appreciation with grace and sincerity can help you build and maintain healthy relationships. Acknowledgements and compliments can help improve one’s mental and social health.